Heroin Symptoms and Warning Signs

What Are The Signs Of Heroin Use?

Side effects resulting form heroin addiction may very well top the list of the worst drug effects in a human body. You can prevent someone from dying knowing what the indications of heroin are.

Compared to most drugs, the addictive effects of heroin are quite strong. Most of the people who have fallen victim to it didn't intend on getting hooked to it, but its use is associated with an irresistible urge to use it the more.

Telling whether a particular individual is using heroin can be quite a challenge, most of the users have perfected the art of hiding such information. People who are new to the drug rarely take it intravenously so don't always expect to find track marks that come with injection.

Some of the tell tale signs of heroin abuse include:

Eyes that are bloodshot

Presence of constricted or pinpoint pupils

Quick weight loss

They many suddenly become secretive

Their appearance may start to change

No enthusiasm

Heavy sleepiness or dozing off

They may suddenly be constantly borrowing money

The Dangers Of Heroin

Heroin and its habit-forming characteristic is why many people consider it a risky drug. The effects of taking heroin are both short term and long term, not to mention the other indirect risks that the users put themselves in.

The rates of transmission of infections such as HIV or Hepatitis is quite high among Heroin users.

The viruses which are blood borne are an eminent risk to seasoned heroin users since they prefer injections with the needles being shared. The increased rate of spread of diseases among addicts may come from increased risky sexual behaviours. Furthermore, the risk of spontaneous abortion is manifold amongst pregnant heroin users.

Addicts are more predisposed to contemplate committing suicide. Overdosing is a way self-murder occurs. Self-murder's probabilities increase in those heroin addicts who are affected by psychological problems like depression or bipolar disorder.

A suicide attempt can be trigger by the resulting depression that comes with withdrawal. Call us for support if you or a person you care about is facing heroin problems.

Other heroin addiction symptoms include:

Being depressed

Scared

Incessant itchiness

Irregular passing of stools

Short Breath

Dry mouth

One having slurred speech

Blocked Veins

Throwing up and Nausea

As time goes by, the symptoms of heroin use get progressively worse A person that uses heroin for a long period ends up weakening his/her immune systems and destroys their internal organs. Prolonged heroin use increases a person's risk of contracting diseases. Besides immune suppression, long term heroin users often develop liver, heart, and lung complications.

Deadly overdosing is a big threat as heroin diminishes breathing and heart rates. A coma or serious brain damage can also occur in case of an overdose which doesn't kill the user.

Ready to Get Help?

Picking Out A Heroin Addict

Trying heroin can easily cause dependence because it has physically and psychologically addictive effects. 11 indications that are revealing to heroin's dependence are listed in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual. Becoming more tolerant of the drug, continuing to use while being aware of it's effects and using more heroin than you wanted to are some of the signs to look out for. The more severe their addiction is considered to be, the more symptoms of heroin abuse a person exhibits.

Thousands of people have been receiving treatment for heroin every year and there are many treatment options available to help people overcome their addiction.

Even casually using heroin can easily result in the user getting hooked to the drug due to the effects it has on the brain and body.

How To Intervene When Someone Is Addicted To Heroin

Heroin addicted people are ready to seek treatment for their problem. Some heroin addicts initially don't consider their dependence an issue, therefore hesitate to seek treatment. Those in the advanced stages of heroin addiction, have most likely attempted to quit without much success. Setting up an intervention may be motivation for a person to seek help.

Withdrawal And Treatment

Physical craving comes along with overdoing heroin and this is what best describes its dependence. Physical dependence is characterised by withdrawal symptoms and the demand for an increased quantity of heroin to attain more intoxication.

Quite different from drugs that don't lead to physical addiction (for instance Cocaine and marijuana), heroin addiction is associated with withdrawal effects that could result in extreme physical pain and this develops so fast, about two hours from when one last used the drug. Besides the physical symptoms, withdrawal can also cause psychological symptoms

Psychological symptoms may include cold sweats, muscle pain, and depression.

Sometimes the withdrawal symptoms of heroin last for many months but in most cases, most of the symptoms last for seven days. The best and safest way of managing heroin withdrawal symptoms is through the intervention of a professional medical centre. Being in a treatment centre (rehab) will keep you in an environment that is free of distractions and you'll also have access to support groups. Heroin dependence can now be cured at a rehab clinic close to you.